Washington County Community Circles, Inc.

What Washington County Community Circles, Inc. does

Washington County Community Circles, Inc. (WCCC) is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that practices restorative justice through Peacemaking Circles. Incorporated in 2007 and operating continuously since Circles began in Washington County in 1997–1998, WCCC serves criminal defendants, crime victims, and community members across three communities — Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and Woodbury — within Washington County, MN. Its core service is facilitating six Circle modalities (Sentencing, Healing, Understanding, Reintegration, Support, and Accountability) led by trained volunteer Circle Keepers, with the methodology originating from Canadian First Nations training traditions introduced into Washington County in 1997. Criminal cases are referred via the court system with multi-party consent (defendant, victim, defense attorney, prosecutor, and court); non-criminal cases are accepted via direct community application.

WCCC is an all-volunteer organization with zero paid staff; all operations — case facilitation, fundraising, marketing, training, accounting, and grant writing — are executed by ~37 active volunteers contributing approximately 1,448 hours annually, supported by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its "product surface" consists of the Circle facilitation services themselves plus a structured training program (Circle 101 Training, Advanced Circle Keeper Training, and Customized Trainings) priced at $25 for Washington County residents, $50 for non-resident students, and $125 for non-residents, with waivers available. Speaking honorariums and customized training engagements are offered to external groups on a fee basis.

Revenue is generated entirely from donations (individual contributions, Wells Fargo and 3M Gives corporate matching), fundraising activities (GiveMN / Give To The Max Day, Gertens plant sales, Giving Tuesday), and the aforementioned training and speaking fees. The organization maintains referral and ecosystem partnerships with Washington County Courts, Washington County Attorney's Office, Minnesota Justice Foundation, Tubman, Community Thread, and VolunteerMatch.org. Outcome data shows an 11% two-year recidivism rate and 26% long-term recidivism rate among 80+ clients tracked over 15+ years — outcomes WCCC uses as the evidentiary basis for continued court and community referral volume.

Name

Washington County Community Circles, Inc.

Legal name

Washington County Community Circles, Inc.

Website

https://peacemakingcircles.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Washington County Community Circles, Inc. is an all-volunteer Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit that facilitates restorative justice Peacemaking Circles for criminal defendants, crime victims, and community members across Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and Woodbury, funded by donations, training fees, and corporate matching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restorative Justice Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Restorative justice services
• Peacemaking circles
• Community conflict resolution
• Victim offender mediation
• Circle training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cottage Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Personal donations from individuals supporting the organization. Donations can be made directly via check or through GiveMN.org platform. As an all-volunteer organization, donations go directly to operations.
2. Corporate Matching Programs: Corporate employee matching programs including Wells Fargo and 3M Gives where supporters can have their donations matched by their employer.
3. Fundraising Events: Three main fundraising activities: Spring and Winter plant/flower sales through partnership with Gertens, Give To The Max Day participation in November, and Giving Tuesday global day of giving.
4. Training Fees: Circle 101 and Circle Keeper Training fees charged for participants. Rates vary by residency and student status. Fees may be waived or negotiated.
5. Speaking Honorariums: Fee-based speaking engagements and training sessions for groups, classes, churches, or community organizations about Circles and restorative practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington County Community Circles, Inc. is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that practices restorative justice through the "Circles" process. It delivers Sentencing Circles, Healing Circles, Support Circles, Talking Circles, and related circle-based programs that bring together affected parties — including offenders, victims, and community members — to address harm, support reintegration into the community, and resolve conflict. The organization also offers training and speaking engagements to share its restorative-justice methodology.

Product overview

Washington County Community Circles, Inc. (WCCC) is a nonprofit volunteer-based organization offering a single unified restorative justice service called Peacemaking/Community Circles. This core service encompasses multiple Circle types (Sentencing, Healing, Understanding, Reintegration, Support, and Accountability Circles) facilitated by trained Circle Keepers. The organization also provides associated training programs including Circle 101 Training (introductory), Advanced Circle Training (Circle Keeper Training), Customized Trainings, and Speaking Honorariums. WCCC operates in partnership with the criminal justice system, taking referrals from courts and community members to address crime and conflict in Washington County, Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 11% of clients have a new conviction two years after acceptance into Circle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GertensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising partnership for spring plants/flowers and winter poinsettia sales. WCCC partners with Gertens twice yearly for fundraising activities with flowers of excellent quality.
• GiveMN.orgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary donation platform for WCCC. Hosts Give To The Max Day in November and provides ongoing donation processing for the organization.
• Wells FargominorOthersCorporate matching program where Wells Fargo matches employee donations to WCCC as part of corporate responsibility community giving.
• 3M GivesminorOthersCorporate matching program where 3M matches employee donations to WCCC through 3M Gives US program.
• Community ThreadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCCC is a member of Community Thread. Provides information about current volunteer opportunities and collaborative community engagement.
• Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCCC works closely with MJF to place law students in Circle volunteer positions. Provides opportunity for law students to participate in restorative justice processes.
• Living Justice PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher devoted to Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. WCCC references their book 'Peacemaking Circles: From Conflict to Community' by Kay Parris, Barry Stuart, and Mark Wedge.
• Minnesota Department of CorrectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing information about Restorative Justice initiatives. WCCC referenced as resource for restorative justice practices.
• Prison Fellowship MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational restorative justice organization providing comprehensive links to other restorative justice websites and resources.
• TubmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily crisis and support services organization. Helps victims seek additional support including advocacy, therapists, counselors, and safety measures. WCCC refers victims to Tubman services.
• VolunteerMatch.orgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer recruitment platform where WCCC posts volunteer opportunities to attract community volunteers for Circle participation.
• Washington County Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to combat commercial sex exploitation through Accountability Circles for johns seeking commercial sex in the community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Restorative Justice Council: The UK-based Restorative Justice Council sets quality standards and supports the delivery of restorative justice across criminal justice and community settings. It is comparable to WCCC in mission and method but operates primarily in the United Kingdom, not in Washington County, Minnesota.
• Tubman Family Safety Center: Tubman provides family crisis, victim advocacy, and safety services across Minnesota and is already a WCCC partner for victim referrals. It is comparable to WCCC in serving Washington County crime victims through healing and support services, though its mission spans broader domestic violence and crisis intervention.

Others

• National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ): NACRJ is a professional association advancing restorative justice practice, policy, and research across the U.S. It is thematically comparable to WCCC's restorative justice mission and provides a network for similar community-based programs, though it serves as an umbrella organization rather than a direct service provider.
• Mennonite Central Committee U.S. (Restorative Justice): MCC operates a long-standing restorative justice program that trains facilitators and supports victim-offender dialogue globally. It is thematically comparable to WCCC's Circle methodology and consensus-based decision-making, sharing roots in indigenous and faith-influenced peacemaking traditions.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP): IIRP is a globally recognized institution that trains practitioners and organizations in restorative practices across schools, criminal justice, and workplaces. It overlaps with WCCC's Circle Keeper training and broader restorative methodology, but operates as a wider educational/training entity rather than a direct service provider.
• Prison Fellowship Ministries: Prison Fellowship is a national faith-based organization that advocates for and implements restorative justice in prisons and communities. WCCC already lists Prison Fellowship as a partner; the two share restorative justice methodology and victim-offender work, though Prison Fellowship operates at a far larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Victim-Offender Mediation Association (VOMA): VOMA is a membership organization supporting victim-offender dialogue, mediation, and restorative justice programs across North America. It is comparable to WCCC's victim-driven Healing Circles and sentencing circle facilitation, functioning as a broader network that includes programs of WCCC's type and scale.
• Community Mediation Services: Community Mediation Services provides facilitated conflict resolution, restorative justice, and community dialogue in local communities. It directly parallels WCCC's community-led dispute resolution and Circle of Understanding offerings for non-criminal conflicts.
• Center for Court Innovation: The Center for Court Innovation operates court-based restorative justice, problem-solving courts, and community-based alternatives to incarceration across the U.S. It directly compares to WCCC in delivering restorative justice Circles and sentencing alternatives in partnership with court systems, though at much larger scale.
• Minnesota Peacebuilding Resource Center: Minnesota Peacebuilding Resource Center advances restorative practices and peacebuilding across Minnesota schools, communities, and justice settings. It is comparable as a Minnesota-based restorative justice peer offering training and community-based conflict resolution similar to WCCC's Circle 101 and customized trainings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/peacemakingcircles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/650046

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington County Community Circles, Inc.